CHAPTER NINETEEN
BRAY HUNG BACK, standing with his shoulders pulled forward against the crisp wind. He wore only a T-shirt and jeans and a million emotions clamored for Armie’s attention.
He dropped his bag onto the gravel lot and reached the boy in two long strides. Clasping his shoulders, Armie went with the most pressing concern first. “You’re okay?”
Looking surprised by that question, Bray muttered, “Yeah, sure.”
A slight shake, and Armie demanded, “Where the hell have you been?”
If anything, that made Bray’s expression more confused, as if he’d honestly thought no one would care that he was out on his own.
“I was hanging in the park.”
Jesus, Joseph and Mary. The park, which was pitch-black at night and used more often than not for shady deals too corrupt for daylight. With more emphasis, Armie asked, “Why?”
“Doesn’t matter right now. I have something to tell you.”
“The hell it doesn’t matter. It matters to me, Bray. I told you that. Damn it, I’ve been worried sick.”
Bray tried to shrug off his hands, but Armie didn’t let him go.
“Worried sick?” The kid curled his lip. “You sound like my mom when she isn’t messed up.”
That stole Armie’s ire, because he was pretty sure Bray’s mom stayed messed up. Riding the waves of conflicting emotions, he drew Bray in for a bear hug so tight it made the kid cough. “Shit.” Armie held him back the length of his arms and dipped down to look him in the eyes. “I’m not your mama, boy, you got that? If I was, you could bet your ass I wouldn’t let you out of my sight. Especially after this disappearing act of yours.”
Uncomfortable, Bray wriggled free of Armie’s hold—and Armie let him. Finally getting it together, he stripped off his hoodie and, against Bray’s wishes, stuffed him into it. It fit the kid like a robe.
Armie folded his arms and said, “All right, let’s hear it. What’s going on?”
As if enjoying the warmth, Bray chafed his hands up and down his arms over the thick sweatshirt material. “Some people, I don’t know who but they sounded bad...well, they’re setting up your girlfriend. At least, I guess she’s your girlfriend.”
Armie stared at him, dumbfounded. “What are you talking about?”
“There were three big dudes in the park last night. I couldn’t hear everything they said but I heard your name, so I tried to sneak closer to listen.”
No freaking way. Armie’s chest hurt. “You—”
“They didn’t hear me,” Bray assured him. “But they said something about getting it done once and for all.”
The fact that Rissy was still at the bank gave Armie a small measure of calm. One thing at a time, he told himself. “Getting what done? How?”
“I don’t know. I was scared, so I missed a lot of what was said. But it sounded like...like maybe they’re setting up a lady to help them out. She’s going to be like an interviewer or something. One of the guys...” Bray hedged, his face down.
“One of the guys?” Armie encouraged him.
“He said you’re a rapist.”
Pain sliced into him and he stepped back.
Bray said nothing. He just stared at him as the air grew charged with the impending storm.
“It’s not true,” Armie finally told him. He didn’t care what most people thought of him. But he wanted, needed, Bray to know the truth.
“I figured.” Bray shoved his hands deep in the pockets of the sweatshirt. “Some of my mom’s men...sometimes they make her do things.”
Shit. Just...shit.
“But you’re not like them.” Voice strained, Bray gestured broadly toward the direction of the rec center. “None of you are.”
“None of us,” Armie swore. “Come on.”
Bray tried to hold back, but with a hand on his elbow, Armie tugged him along anyway.
“Where are we going?”
“To check on my girlfriend.” My girlfriend. Bray’s word for Rissy, and while it sounded ridiculous, Armie enjoyed saying it all the same. “I want you with me.”
“But—”
Armie opened the passenger door and more or less hoisted the kid into his seat. “You came here to tell me, right? I need all the details.”
“But—”
The closing of the truck door cut off whatever Bray planned to say. Keeping an eye on him in case he bolted, Armie circled around the hood to the other side and got behind the wheel. “Seat belt on.”
“This is nuts.”
“Yeah it is. Crazy nuts.” He speed-dialed Rissy. Unfortunately it went to voice mail. “Shit.”
“No answer?”
“Not yet.” Armie started the truck. “I’ll keep trying while we head to her work. On the way, you can tell me everything.”
“I already did.”
“What’d they look like?”
“I don’t know. It was dark and...and I was afraid to stick my head out and look.”
Reaching over, Armie squeezed the kid’s shoulder. “Thank God for small favors. Glad to know you showed some common sense.” Armie sensed it when Bray smiled. He glanced at him while hitting Redial for Rissy. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re just weird, that’s all.”
“Weird, huh? Because I don’t want you to take crazy-ass risks?”
Bray turned somber. “Maybe.”
Still no answer. Should he head to the apartment or to the bank? He opted for the bank. If she called him back in the meantime, then he’d change plans.
Now for Bray... “You can’t go back out on your own.”
“I figured you’d say that.”
Armie didn’t miss the note of relief. Maybe Bray had needed a reason to come back. “I thought you liked your foster family.”
He turned his face to look out the window. “I do.”
“Then why run?”
Silence stretched out, the windows grew foggy and Armie tried Rissy again. Still no answer—and damn it, he was starting to get seriously pissed. Maybe he should give Cannon a call. Her brother might be closer...
“They said they want to adopt me.”
Whoa. Armie felt like he’d waded into very dangerous territory; he didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing. “They did, huh?” In the long run a good thing, but he could imagine Bray’s internal conflict.
With his face still averted, Bray nodded. Tension built—and cracked. “Guess...” His voice went thick. “Guess my mom said okay.”
Fucking son of a bitch. Armie gripped the wheel tight enough to snap it. Rage wouldn’t help the kid any so he tried to tamp it down, but it wasn’t easy. Damn Bray’s mother for not wanting him. Damn her for not being a better mom.
Damn this all for feeling too familiar.
“She said the state won’t let Russell back with me around.” Bray hunkered tighter into the corner. “Says she loves me, but I guess she loves him more.”
Maybe, Armie thought, it was a blessing that he’d been where Bray was at now, because it gave him a little insight.
Uncertainty hung with him, but he forged ahead anyway. “Look, I suck at this,” Armie said, going with the truth. “But here’s the thing, kid. Your life is what it is, and it’s how you react to it that’s going to matter. My mom and dad both were jellyfish.”
“Jellyfish?”
“Spineless,” Armie clarified. “Mom split when I was a teen, and Dad drank away the days doing a lot of the same shit Russell does. Your mom is...” So many names came to mind, but Armie passed on all of them. “She’s not strong. Not like you are.”
Bray laughed.
“Hey, it’s true. I see it. All the guys at the rec center have seen it. You’ve got more backbone and character than a lot of adults. It’s only words, my words, and I know they don’t matter, but if you can try to focus on the upside, that a great family loves you and wants you...” God, that sounded hollow. “And you’d still get to see your mom sometimes, right?”
“I don’t know.”
Meaning he didn’t know if she’d want to, if the foster family was smart enough to say no, or if the state would allow it. “Listen, I’m here for you—and this time you damn well better believe it. You came here to help me, so let me help you back. Trust me a little, okay? We can take it day by day. I’ve been where you’re at now, except that crazy stuff about me being a rapist? My dad helped shore that up. He knew the truth.” Knows the truth. Armie’s eyes burned. “And still, for his own selfish reasons, he pushed the lie. I’m his son but he’s willing to bury me for a few bucks.”
Bray stared at him.
“It’s the truth, so believe me when I say I understand that you’re hurting, and I’m here.”
Again, that strained silence stretched out, taut and uncomfortable, until finally Bray heaved a sigh and sat straighter. “Okay.”
Armie released a cautious breath. “Okay?”
Bray nodded. “Okay.”
A weight lifted off Armie’s chest. His heart pumped easier. “Okay.” There were a dozen things to do yet tonight. Hopefully Bray’s foster family would forgive the delay, because first... “Let’s go find my girlfriend.”
* * *
DISGUSTED, MERISSA LOOKED at her dead cell. Figures. The perfect way to finish off this very imperfect day.
But then she smiled as she stuck the phone back in her purse and headed for her car. She was going home to Armie, so truthfully, it was pretty darned awesome.
“Merissa Colter?”
Looking back, she spotted the stylish woman holding a recorder and microphone. Had the woman been waiting for her? Merissa quickly scanned the area. Streetlamps countered the darkness of early evening. Off in the distance, lightning flickered against stormy skies.
Plenty of people passed around them, some driving on the street, others waiting for the bus, a few hurriedly walking by.
Uncertain, Merissa turned to face her. “Yes?”
With a coy smile, the woman said, “Rumor has it you’re hooked up with Armie Jacobson, the SBC’s newest rising star. If that’s true, would you mind answering just a few quick questions? I promise I won’t keep you.”
Suspicions clamored. “Who are you with?”
The woman moved closer. “I wish I could say ESPN, but hey, we locals need love, too, right?” She held out credentials that claimed she wrote for the sports section of a community paper. “I’ll keep it short and to the point, okay? Just five minutes, tops.”
After the past few hectic hours, a headache pecked at Merissa’s brain and her neck and shoulders ached. “It’s going to storm.”
“If it starts, we’ll call it quits. But you know Mr. Jacobson has a lot of fans in the area. They’d love to hear about him.”
Of course he did. Who could possibly meet Armie and not love him? “Wouldn’t it be better to talk directly to him?” On top of the glitch at work, a disgruntled client that had to be appeased and a surprise meeting with her supervisor, Steve had called her again. He’d claimed to have heard rumors about Armie and wanted her to let him “protect” her. What a joke.
It was bizarre, but Steve was more persistent now than he’d been when they were together.
“Could you arrange that?” the reporter asked with energy. “If so, I’d love it!” Her expression turned pleading. “But since you’re here now, can I impose for just a few questions? It would really mean a lot to me and to Quick’s fans.”
Given that her brother was a hometown hero, Merissa had been cornered before with questions about him. She didn’t mind so much, except that she was badly off-kilter and really just wanted to collapse.
“All right. Sure. But it does need to be short.” Merissa tried putting on her happy face, after all, this was Armie’s career. Readjusting her purse on her shoulder, she said, “Ready when you are.”
“Perfect.” The reporter turned on a small recorder, holding it out so that it almost bumped Merissa’s chin. “Armie Jacobson is from the area, isn’t that right?”
“Yes. He and my brother, Cannon Colter, have been friends for a very long time.”
“Going all the way back to high school.”
“That’s right,” Merissa confirmed.
“I suppose that means you, too, have known him a long time. Does that make your relationship awkward?”
Such an odd question. “I don’t see how that has anything to do with—”
“And now Armie helps out at the gym,” the interviewer rushed to ask. “I understand that he especially enjoys working with the children?”
Okay, so that was more on track. Merissa nodded. “He’s terrific with everyone, but yes, kids love Armie.”
“So do the ladies.”
Again, Merissa faltered. She was starting to have a bad feeling about this. “That’s not much of a secret.”
“His reputation doesn’t bother you?”
Merissa narrowed her eyes. “I think we’re all done.”
“Interesting.” The woman held her gaze. “Before he became an SBC fighter, Armie was accused of rape. It was never resolved, was it?”
Shoving the recorder away from her face, Merissa stepped back. “Who are you?”
The lady laughed. Not an amused laugh, but more like a “gotcha” laugh, as if a plan had just come together.
With the vague sense of a threat closing in, Merissa glanced around and realized the area now felt empty. So many things had happened lately that she didn’t question her own instincts. Instead, after impaling the woman with a killing glare, she strode toward her car. The woman’s hilarity followed her, but Merissa didn’t give her the satisfaction of looking back.
She reached her car just as a man and woman pulled up to the curb. The woman sat in her car with two kids while the man jogged to the ATM. They looked to be in their early twenties and as nonthreatening as people could be. Buoyed by their presence, Merissa unlocked her car, climbed in and hit the lock button once more.
When she looked up, the reporter hadn’t moved but she did wave to two men in a truck. As Merissa pulled away, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the truck followed.
Her phone was dead. What should she do?
Daring to fumble around as she drove, Merissa found her charger and plugged in the phone.
The truck stayed right behind her.
On the off chance they didn’t already know where he lived, there was no way Merissa wanted to lead them to Armie’s apartment.
Instead, constantly glancing at the rearview mirror, she took a turn and headed to her brother’s home. Cannon and Yvette lived closer than Denver and Cherry, and with any luck, Cannon would already be home. If these were men hoping to cause trouble for Armie, Cannon would put an end to it real fast.
But even if Cannon wasn’t home, Yvette would be able to reach him. And given her awful past, Yvette lived in a very secure house with locks on every window and door.
The beep of her phone made Merissa jump. She had missed calls—but at least the cell was now charged enough that she might be able to use it. She was about to do exactly that when the skies opened up and a deluge of rain pounded her small car.
Great. Just freaking great!
Holding tight to the wheel, willing herself to pay attention to her driving and to ignore everything else, she did a hands-free call to Yvette.
“Hey, Rissy.”
“Are you home?”
“Yes. Did you want to come by?”
“I do, see, people are following me. I don’t want to explain it all now, but I’m almost to your house. Can you please unlock your front door and be ready for me to barrel through?”
“Ohmigod.” There was a rustle of sound and Yvette said, “I think I see you.”
“Yeah, I just turned onto your street.” Yvette likely peeked through her front window. “Is that other car still behind me?”
“I don’t see anyone else, but with this rain it’s hard to tell. Come straight in when you get here. I’m going to call Cannon.”
“Thanks.” As soon as Merissa pulled up to the curb in front of her brother’s home, she saw the curtain on the front window drop. The door opened and Yvette stood there, scanning the area and with her cell phone to her ear.
Merissa glanced around but no longer saw the truck. So why did she still feel threatened?
She unplugged her phone, snatched up her purse and ran through the downpour. She was barely in the door when Yvette slammed it and turned several locks.
“You’re soaked.” Yvette disappeared down the hall, returning a second later with a big towel. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Merissa stepped out of her shoes as she dried her face and quickly peeked out the window. Nothing.
Was she overreacting again?
And why did these things keep happening to her?
Emotion welled up, fear and rage and it overwhelmed her.
“What happened?” Yvette led her to the couch. “Do you want anything?”
“You called Cannon?”
“He’s on his way. He said he’d get hold of Armie.”
Merissa put her head in her hands. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s no one there.”
“Now,” Yvette said. “But I know you, Merissa. If you say you were being followed, you were. So why don’t you just tell me what happened?”
Maybe talking would help to clarify it. “I think I was set up. This lady—she said she was an interviewer but then she asked these awful questions about Armie and when I turned to leave, she laughed. Like...she was taunting me. Or maybe that she was pleased that she’d upset me because that’s what she’d meant to do.”
“An interviewer?” Yvette asked.
“A fake interviewer.” As briefly as possible, Merissa explained. She wasn’t sure if Cannon had told Yvette about the rape accusations, so she didn’t dare mention them. What to do? Armie would be so upset. She folded her arms around herself and damn it, she knew she was going to cry.
Alarmed, Yvette touched her arm. “You’re shaking.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” The first tear tracked down her cheek and she angrily slapped it away.
“It’s okay.” Yvette sat beside her, one hand still on her shoulder. “I’ve never seen you cry.”
Humiliated, Merissa used the towel to scrub over her face, removing what little makeup she had left.
“Cannon will be here soon,” Yvette said soothingly, as if she didn’t know what else to say.
Merissa tried a breath that thankfully didn’t strangle in her throat. “I never cry.”
“Never?” Yvette teased, her hand now stroking Merissa’s back. “You’re better than me, then. Shoot, every month around my period I got so weepy, it drove me nuts. And honestly, at the beginning of my pregnancy, it was even worse.”
Merissa went still. Everything seemed to slow down. Her tears, her thoughts, even her fear.
Her overblown fear.
Her overblown emotions.
She turned to stare at Yvette.
Yvette stared back. “What?”
Covering her mouth with a shaking hand, Merissa whispered, “Oh no.”
“Rissy.” Yvette took both her hands. “You’re scaring me.”
Biting her lip, Merissa tried to do some quick math. She stared at Yvette again. “Oh no.”
Suddenly Yvette’s eyes widened. “Do you think...?”
“I haven’t had a period.” How the heck had she missed that? Merissa swallowed hard and said again, “Oh no.”
“So you’re overdue?”
Bobbing her head, Merissa repeated, “Overdue. By at least three weeks.”
“Wow.” Yvette did some quick thinking. “Okay, let’s don’t jump to conclusions here. You’ve had a lot going on, right? That could mess up anyone. Are you usually regular?”
“Like clockwork.”
“Your birth control doesn’t inhibit your monthly—”
“No.” Merissa pulled in a shuddering breath. She couldn’t seem to get her brain wrapped around it. When it occurred to her, she blurted, “My boobs hurt!”
Yvette choked on a laugh.
Merissa scowled at her. “If you weren’t knocked up, I’d shove you off the couch.” Instead she dropped back and closed her eyes. “But I already love my niece or nephew and I don’t want him or her to think I’m violent.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, I promise. You just surprised me.” Yvette sat back, too, her head turned toward Merissa. “Being tender could be a sign. Or maybe it’s just Armie’s—” she arched a brow “—enthusiasm?”
“No. That is, he’s definitely enthusiastic.” Very much so. “But he’s never hurt me.”
“Of course he wouldn’t. I didn’t mean that.” Yvette smoothed Merissa’s hair. “Would a baby be a terrible thing?”
Armie’s baby? No, never would that be terrible. Even the mere possibility had her heart ready to burst with love. But the timing... “Armie’s heading into his first fight.”
“If ever there was a man who could multitask, it’s Armie.”
True. Merissa bit her lip. “He’s never said how he really feels about me.”
“But you know,” Yvette insisted. “Everyone knows.”
God, Merissa hoped that he cared for her. “Maybe he doesn’t know. And even if he didn’t already have so much on his plate, I would never want to pressure him.”
Yvette considered that. “The fight isn’t that far away. Would you wait to tell him?”
“I don’t know.” Things with Armie had been so chaotic and ever-changing that she’d forgotten all about her very regular monthly. But now that she realized she was late, she couldn’t just throw that at him, not without being certain first. “Armie is...”
“Hot and complicated?”
Merissa nodded. “Yes.”
“Oversexed, sexy and caring?”
Merissa eyed her. “That, too.”
“Brash and loyal to a fault?”
“Yvette—”
“Funny and strong, but guarded and so, so deserving.”
Sighing, Merissa whispered, “Yes.” For her, for so many, Armie was everything. “You know him well.”
“He’s been such a good friend to me. To everyone.” Yvette sat up and asked, “What will you do?”
“I don’t even know yet if there’s anything to tell him.” Feeling like a complete wimp, and worse, a coward, Merissa shrugged. “I guess I need to take a test or something.”
“You do and I’d love to be with you.” Yvette looked a little excited. “You know, for moral support.”
Yvette’s kindness made her want to cry again. How had she gotten so lucky to have such an amazing sister-in-law? She sniffed, nodded. “Okay. Thank you.” Much as she loved Cherry, her best friend couldn’t keep a secret from Denver. And Vanity would probably insist she should shout it from the rooftops. Yvette, being the calm, deep type, would make the perfect confidante. “But you can’t say anything to anyone. Not even to Cannon.”
Yvette started to nod when the front door flew open, and they both jumped with a startled screech.
Merissa even snatched up her legs, curling around Yvette to protect her—until she realized it was her brother. Good Lord, she’d been so thrown by the idea of a baby, she hadn’t even heard his key in the lock.
Cannon stood there in the doorway, backlit by the porch light and the fury of the storm. As soon as he saw them both the dangerous edge of rage leeched away. He opened his mouth and—
Armie plowed into his back.
They both stumbled in.
“I didn’t expect you to stand there,” Armie said as they righted themselves.
“I didn’t even know you were behind me,” Cannon countered.
There was a staring contest while everyone looked at everyone else. Lightning flashed, a crack of thunder shook the house, then Bray stepped in between the two men and smiled shyly at Merissa.
“Safe and sound,” he said to Armie. “Now can I go?”
* * *
MERISSA WAS SPOOKED and it killed him.
Some asshole, maybe his dad, had set her up and scared her, and Armie really wanted to wring some necks.
But he didn’t even know where to start.
They’d left her car at Cannon’s with the promise Cannon would get it dropped off to her tomorrow morning. She’d ridden along in his truck, sitting between him and Bray, while he took Bray to the foster family that, from what Armie could tell, loved him. Sally and Bill—how fucking normal was that?—hugged the kid and seemed genuinely grateful that he was safe and sound. Bray had looked shamed by how he’d scared them, but they remained understanding, even to the point of taking Armie’s number and promising to keep him updated. They’d treated him like a damned hero or something.
Now he and Merissa were home and he was at loose ends, not sure what problem to tackle first, or even how to feel about it.
“Bray trusts you.”
He looked over at Rissy standing in the middle of the bedroom floor, stripping off her clothes with listless disregard for where they landed. Very unlike her.
The remnants of ruined makeup remained under her eyes, and it hurt him. “How do you figure that?”
She shrugged out of a lacy bra and stood there in nothing more than panties. “I can tell.”
God, she killed him. If they were together a hundred years, he’d never be able to see her like this without being affected.
But he didn’t have a hundred years. After what had just happened, he didn’t even have tomorrow.
On the chair by the mirror, Armie watched her as he peeled off his socks and pitched them toward the pile of Rissy’s discarded clothes. “I like kids,” he said, just to keep her talking.
Her gaze flashed up to his, then her bottom lip trembled before she deliberately flattened her mouth with a very phony smile. “You’re good with them.”
No more so than the rest of the guys at the rec center. When tears welled in her eyes, she blinked quickly and turned away.
Merissa wasn’t one to cry, and seeing her fight it off now hurt something deep inside him. “Rissy.” Still wearing his jeans, Armie went to her, sat on the side of the bed and pulled her into his lap. He kissed the top of her head and made sure to keep his hands on safe territory. “You’re okay now.”
“I know.” She turned into him, holding him tight. “It wasn’t that big a deal. Maybe just a prank that felt wrong.” Her breasts pressed to his chest, warm and soft.
Shit, much more of that and he wouldn’t be able to remain honorable. “Do you want a shower?”
She nodded. “Will you shower with me?”
He hesitated, but it wasn’t like he could hide it. “Long as you don’t mind me being hard.”
She nuzzled into him. “I never mind that.”
“Hey.” He tilted her back. “You’re upset.”
“Mostly I’m tired. And furious. And...and...” She cuddled in again. After a stretch of quiet, she said in a small voice, “Let’s go shower.”
The sooner he got to it, the sooner he could tuck her into bed, cover her body and put his mind on the right track. “All right.” He lifted her, very much enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
“Armie,” she protested.
He headed to the shower. “Let me pamper you.” He kissed the top of her breast, cursed himself and did it again. Once in the bathroom he set her on her feet and started the shower. “You sure you’re not hungry?”
“Not anymore.”
He’d grabbed fast food on the drive home and they’d devoured it in the car. Simon would have a fit if he knew he’d stuffed his face with burgers, but fuck Simon. He’d needed something, and since he couldn’t beat the shit out of anyone, or screw the night away in an orgy, two all-beef patties had won out.
“In you go.” He held the shower curtain aside, then held his breath, too, as Rissy skimmed off her panties.
She brushed past him—pretty deliberately, he noticed—and turned her face up to the shower spray.
Stunning.
That simple word didn’t quite cover how incredibly beautiful she was to him, especially now with her long hair wet down her back, her lashes spiked.
Her nipples tight.
Forget orgies. What he wanted was Merissa Colter holding him tight enough for her nails to sting while he rode her hard.
Without looking at him, she said, “Armie?”
“Hmm?”
“Get naked, and get in.”
“All right.” As he stepped out of his jeans and boxers, he told his dick to behave.
His dick didn’t listen.
He was trying to think about working out, the competition, hell, he even thought about Justice, anything to try to rein in his lust, but then Rissy turned to him, smiled and soaped up her hands.
“Ah, hell,” he breathed, taut with anticipation.
“I love how you look,” she told him while sliding those soapy hands over his shoulders.
“I’m more than a body,” he said in a ridiculously offended tone that made her laugh.
“You definitely are.” She slipped behind him—and now it was her soapy breasts he felt on his back. Reaching around him to wash his abs, she whispered, “You are the whole, awesome, sexy, smart, funny, endearing package.”
“Endearing?” He wanted to snort, but then she wrapped a hand around his pipe and he might have gasped instead.
“Very endearing.” Her lips nibbled on his shoulder. “I love how you feel.”
Love.
“And I love how you taste.” She licked a sizzling path from the side of his neck to his ear.
“Shit.” Strung out, breathing hard, he turned suddenly and pinned her to the wall. “You like teasing now?”
“I love teasing you.”
Jesus, if she didn’t stop using that word, he’d lose it. All but heaving, he worked his jaw. “I can tease, too.”
“Oh, believe me, I know.” She touched her fingertips to his lips. “I love how you—”
Armie took her mouth, licking his tongue in, exploring her mouth, and at the same time cupping a hand between her legs, his fingers already searching.
She made a sound and went on tiptoe in surprise, but he didn’t let up. So many threats against her. The danger kept getting closer. And bolder.
Someone had approached her right outside her work. Someone had followed her.
Because of him.
He’d brought this to her and now he didn’t know how to keep her safe.
When she freed her mouth he kissed her neck, drawing her skin in against his teeth and deliberately marking her. He kept two fingers pressed high in her and started a slow path down her body.
“I wanted to please you,” she protested, one hand already locked in his hair.
“Please me by opening your legs.”
“Armie...”
He didn’t wait for her to do as he asked. He put small, biting kisses on her ribs, her stomach, a hipbone, down—until he parted her lips, licked over her, then gently sucked her clitoris into his mouth.
Crying out, Rissy braced her free hand on the shower wall and parted her legs.
The water hit against his back, making his skin tingle. While he ate at her, he played with her ass. God, he loved her ass. And he kept his fingers in her, working her until she locked her legs and began to tremble.
His cock swelled. But it wouldn’t be right to take her, not when he knew what he had planned for the morning.
“Armie,” she whispered, high and thin. “Armie...” Her hips lifted, she pressed against his mouth and he stayed with her, rasping with his rough tongue until the climax peaked and then oh-so-gradually began to fade. Finally she eased, sated and, going by her smile, happy.
He hurt, but he deserved to hurt so what did it matter? Being sure to support her as he stood, Armie shut off the shower and pushed back the curtain. He snagged a towel and, loving her more than he’d thought possible, carefully dried her off.